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School of Education Alumni News

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Brava magazine recognizes Calloway, Nankin as 2017 ‘Women to Watch’

Brava magazine released its 2017 “Women to Watch” list and two people with ties to UW-Madison’s School of Education are highlighted in the recently released January issue.

Christin Calloway, a current Ph.D. student with the School of Education, and Ilana Nankin, an alumna of the School, are among the women being recognized.

In previewing its annual “Women to Watch” feature, Brava writes, “Meet 26 influential women who will make Madison -– and good things -– happen in 2017.”

The write-up about Calloway begins: “Born and raised in rural Kosciusko, Mississippi, the birthplace of Oprah Winfrey, Christin Calloway’s mantra is Lift as you Climb.”

“There is an ugly history in Mississippi,” Calloway, who is pursuing her doctorate with the Department of Educational Policy Studies, tells Brava. “But I see so many people come out of that history to create a better future for those who are next.”

In addition to pursuing her Ph.D., Calloway is working on the UW-System’s 2020 Forward Strategic Framework, which is an effort to improve student retention, success and completion, Brava reports.

In its feature on Nankin, Brava explains: “Just six years ago, as a pre-K teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area, Ilana Nankin was stressed and unsure that she had the tools to navigate the world of education. She discovered yoga and found a peace within herself, and shared that with her 4-year old students by introducing breathing exercises and mindfulness in the classroom.”

Today, Brava reports, Nankin “is the founder and CEO of Breathe for Change, the world’s only 200-hour wellness and yoga teacher training that’s designed for educators. … In just two short years, the program grew from 34 certified educators in Madison to 200 in 2016 across Madison, the Bay Area and New York City.”